DOCTORS REVIVE BURN VICTIM TWICE

The Riviera Beach woman who was burned over 90 percent of body in an April 4 attack had her heart stop twice over the weekend in the hospital, but doctors were able to revive her.

Tanya Hughey continues to cling to life, only able to communicate by blinking, relatives said Monday, two days after her assailant fell ill in the Palm Beach County Jail and died.

An autopsy was performed Sunday on Lester Charles Parson, 49, but the cause of death won't be released until prosecutors review a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigation, sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.

Hughey, a 38-year-old mother of three, was attacked by Parson at a gas station on Blue Heron Boulevard. Parson told investigators he just "snapped," doused Hughey with gasoline and set her on fire, according to an arrest report.

Hughey is in the burn unit of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

"She is holding on. Saturday night her heart did stop twice, and they did revive her with shock treatments. She is still critical," said Andre Cohen, her brother.

"The doctors are not giving us much hope, because without skin she cannot live. It's just that the muscles are so healthy and strong, and her organs are perfect -- that is the only thing holding her on. The doctors are saying because of the seriousness of the burns that they are shocked and surprised that she is still here today. It is a miracle every day."

Hughey's family members said she had broken off her relationship with Parson but that he wanted to get back together.

"She was breaking up with him, and he was trying to get her back, but she didn't want to go back with him," Cohen said.

"That is what probably set him off," said Hughey's sister, Bernadette Kabir.

Another sister, Madeline Agosto, said Hughey is kept heavily sedated, and she can only respond to questions by blinking her eyes -- once for "yes," twice for "no."

"It's an hour-by-hour situation -- it's not even a day to day situation," Agosto said. "She is on a lot of sedation for the pain. It's a horrible situation right now."

Parson suffered burns on his hands in the attack and was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail on Wednesday, and he was housed in the infirmary. Jail workers went to change his bedding Saturday afternoon, and he asked to be escorted to the bathroom when he fell unconscious shortly before 2 p.m., Barbera said.

He was transported to JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, where he was pronounced dead. Cohen said Parson suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure. A brother-in-law said family members did not want to comment on Parson's death.

Agosto said she was disappointed that Parson would not be punished by the criminal justice system.

"What kind of justice is that after he did that to her?" she said. "It's true. God has a vision of how he wants to handle things. We can't explain it or understand it."

Peter Franceschina can be reached at pfranceschina@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5503.

BENEFIT FUND

Donations can be made in Tanya Hughey's name at any branch of Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust or mailed to Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust, 500 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33405. For more information, call 561-835-1883.